Pitbull Receives a (Fake) Honourary Degree

Pitbull looks as happy as a clam in a picture he posted on Twitter. In the photo, he’s wearing graduation robes, holding a degree and flashing the middle finger at all his haters.

But while we were delighted to see the rapper looking overjoyed with his newly framed achievement, I’m afraid we’re going to have to break some bad news. The degree he holds in his hands is actually not real.

Earlier this month, Pitbull (real name Armando Christian Pérez) received an honourary degree from Miami’s Doral College because of his professional achievements as well as his support for education.

“Alongside his professional achievements, which are well known around the world, his tireless devotion to his community and to improving educational access warrants this unique recognition,” said Anitere Flores, president of Doral College. “It is our privilege to award this incredible artist, businessman and South Floridian with this prestigious honour.”

But according to Doral College’s official website, the school is a non-credited institution. In other words, the degree received by the college may not be accepted by certain employers depending on the local laws, the institution’s reputation and the industry standards.

“Doral College is a non-accredited institution. All students should be aware that due to its current status students will not be eligible for financial aid, transfer of credits to other institutions, or to sit for professional exams in career related fields.”

But that’s not where the sketchiness of the situation ends. According to the Miami Herald, Doral College is a joint venture with Doral Academy Preparatory, a charter high school in South Florida, and Academia, a for-profit education company.

In the article, it states that public school officials have been questioning the legitimacy of the college.

“Miami-Dade public schools officials, who have watched the charter industry claim a growing chunk of taxpayer dollars, are less than enthusiastic. They have refused to authorize dual enrollment courses and have criticized both the value of a Doral College degree and the institution’s heavy reliance on public dollars intended for grade schools. A recent audit also scrutinized Academica’s integral role in the college’s creation, noting the for-profit company already reaps millions in management fees from Miami-Dade’s publicly funded charter schools and now stands to benefit from students’ college education.”

And to rain on Pitbull’s parade even more, the article states that the college only teaches high school students at the moment.

“For now, there aren’t any college students actually attending Doral College. The institution is licensed to provide a bachelor’s degree — potentially opening it to tuition-paying outsiders — but Flores said the college has focused solely on high schoolers while trying to earn accreditation through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which can take years.”

Sigh.

Sorry Pitbull. We hate to break it to you, but someone had to! While this may not be a real degree, we’re sure another degree (a real one!) will come your way soon. And when it does, we’ll certainly be dancing along to Calle Ocho to celebrate.

Samantha Lui is a writer living in Toronto. When she isn't writing, shooting videos or interviewing people, she can be found alone at the movie theater. You can follow her on Twitter (@samanthalui_) or find out more on her site samanthalui.ca.